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Mezzanine Solutions

Growing your company is an exciting milestone for any business owner. After putting hard work into your operation, you have more customers to serve, inventory to store, and employees putting in the hard work to get everything done. However, a pestering thought keeps you up at night: Should you move to a larger space to accommodate fast-past growth, or find an alternative solution to avoid relocation? 

If you’re currently in this position and your existing building has sufficient ceiling height, adding a mezzanine to your workplace may be the most economical solution for your organization. Designed to expand floor space by building up – not out – mezzanines allow businesses to add one or more upper levels to their warehouse, saving time, money, and allowing you to stay in your current space.

Purchasing a mezzanine requires assistance from a company willing to listen to your needs, consult on every step of the project, and find a solution that works for you. ISS Material Handling specializes in designing, supplying and installing mezzanines and has worked on hundreds of projects across the country.

Contact us and a member of our team of experts will find a custom solution to fit your specific needs.

How Mezzanines Can Help You Maximize Your Space

Most warehouses and industrial facilities share one thing in common: really high ceilings. But much of that space is wasted. Mezzanines let you reclaim wasted vertical space, effectively expanding your facility without having to hire an architect or general contractor. In this article, we discuss how a mezzanine could let you better use the space you already have.

 

How can mezzanines be used?

Mezzanines can be used for a wide array of purposes. In fact, pretty much anything you can do on your facility’s floor can be done on a mezzanine.

Here are a few examples:

  • Warehouse storage: Much like your attic at home, a mezzanine can serve as overflow storage. And with the inclusion of pallet drop gates, you can safely store pallets high overhead.
  • Production space: If you’ve ramped up production, a mezzanine can give your workers needed elbow room.
  • In-plant office space: Production and storage requirements usually take priority over office space, yet supervisors and support staff need a place to work. By creating in-plant office space, you put them close to the action without wasting valuable real estate on the main floor.
  • Break rooms, locker rooms, and training rooms: In today’s massive warehouses, workers must often trek long distances to get to and from their workstations. A mezzanine lets you keep break rooms and similar facilities close at hand.
  • Crossovers and stair towers: Warehouses can be busy and dangerous. By installing a mezzanine, you can make it easy for workers and contractors to safely move from one part of your plant to another or handle maintenance of equipment like HVAC systems.

What are the types of mezzanines?

You can choose from three main types of mezzanines:

Freestanding mezzanines are fully customizable in terms of size and placement of columns, stairs, and pallet drop gates. Since they’re freestanding, they’re totally independent of the lower level, giving you flexibility in how you use each level. They’re also the most expensive option.

 

 

 

Full mat mezzanines (either rack supported or shelving supported) cost less than freestanding mezzanines since they don’t require an independent support infrastructure. Because they use low-profile aisle support joists (typically under 4" compared with 12"+ in freestanding mezzanines), they can also work better when vertical space is more limited.

 

 

 

 

Catwalk mezzanines (either rack supported or shelving supported) are the most cost-effective option, primarily because decking is only placed in the aisles. Unlike with the other options, the upper level has to be configured like the lower level, which limits flexibility in storage areas on each level.

 

 

 

 

 

What are common flooring options?

Depending on the type of mezzanine you choose and how you plan to use it, several flooring options are available:

  • Plywood or OSB (oriented standard board) offers an economical choice for applications like in-plant office and storage space.
  • Composite flooring (or resin board) offers more durability than plywood and OSB, which is important if you’ll be using pallet jacks.
  • Diamond plate flooring can stand up to heavy traffic and abuse, although it’s more expensive than plywood, OSB, and composite.
  • Welded bar grating allows for good air flow and light penetration (unlike other choices) and is the strongest option for open-grid flooring.
  • Poured concrete decking offers a good combination of high load support, sound deadening, and fire resistance.

 

 

What are some design and installation considerations?

Two fundamental considerations are how much vertical space you have available and how much additional weight your floor slab can support. You’ll also need to think about the impact your new mezzanine will have on lighting, ventilation, and fire suppression. In terms of installation, you will be required to pull permits, although that process should be much simpler than if you were expanding your facility.

Where can I learn more?

The experts at ISS Material Handling have designed and installed hundreds of mezzanines in facilities across the country. If you’re ready to build up instead of out, our team can help you create the right solution for your unique application.

Contact ISS Material Handling for a Free Consultation 

Do you think a mezzanine system could benefit your operations? Contact us and we can merge our experience and expertise to come up with a solution together. Tell us about your potential project and submit the form below or give us a call at 833-754-2164.

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